Regular fitness efforts have been particularly challenging for me,nmost especially as an adult and parent with a lot of responsibilitiesnas well as a history of sedentary ways. The recent classes and Mr.nOliver’s black-belt test journey have given me inspiration to get back in gearnonce again (the week of “squats of doom” was the first signal). Sincenstarting at the dojo in …
Kicking Butt
Lately, I’ve been meeting a lot of new people at work. Word got out that I ‘do karate’ so people have been asking about it. They start with 1 of 2 questions: What belt are you? Or You could probably kick my butt huh? These 2 questions have made me appreciate our dojo so very much. Mr. Oliver doesn’t focus …
Okinawa – The Real Fountain of Youth?
“At seventy you are but a child, at eighty you are merely a youth, and at ninety if the ancestors invite you into heaven, ask them to wait until you are one hundred… and then you might consider it.” This ancient Okinawan proverb rests on a stone marker in Ogimi, a small village typical of Northern Okinawa. This phrase could …
“Karate-Do My Way of Life” by Gichin Funakoshi.
A few weeks ago, I borrowed a book from Mr. Oliver called, “Karate-Do My Way of Life” by Gichin Funakoshi. There are several chapters or stories within the book that I enjoyed reading. However, I’d like to just write a brief summary here discussing one of my favorite chapters from the book. Specifically, I’d like to discuss rule #2 of …
Karate kids to ‘Trick-or-treat’ for donations benefiting Sacramento Food Bank
Karate kids to ‘Trick-or-treat’ for donations benefiting Sacramento Food Bank Special Thanks to Valley Community Newspapers This Halloween if you are responding to the throngs of children seeking a candy hand-out, you might want to be prepared for what karate kids from Zen Martial Arts in Sacramento will be asking for this year. The students are teaming up with the …
Sacramento Karate Kid Collects over 1000 Diapers for Families in Need
In a quest to earn her Little Dragon Black Belt, Naomi demonstrated compassion and leadership by undertaking a considerable community service project–collect diapers for women and children in need. All collected packages were sent to Wellspring Women’s Center where they were distributed to families in need.
Something New
“Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow.” ~ Ronald Ostrom The quote above reflect my current sentiments. For too long, I was in a rut and didn’t even know it! Life’s patterns started to become stale, routine, boring… I lost a few very important things because I took them for granted. …
Karate Kid’s Journey to Green-Belt Begins with Kindness
By BENN HODAPP / Valley Community Newspapers writer Kristoffer Brown is by all accounts a perfectly normal nine year old boy. He does homework, quarrels with his big sister and goes on vacations with his family. But this isn’t a story about what makes him ordinary, but rather what makes him extraordinary. Kristoffer Brown’s pursuit of a green belt in …
The C Word
A few months back a friend posed a question. I was sharing my excitement about a potential camping trip. It was to be a weekend backpacking trip somewhere local. Backpacking is something I have never done and wondered about. In the natural flow of conversation, my friend asked me in a serious, doubt-filled voice, “Yes, but can you do it?” …
Little Dragon diaper drive – diapers delivered!
Little Dragon Naomi Piper-Pell delivered 1,173 diapers to Wellspring Women and Children’s Center today as part of her Little Dragon Black Belt Project. Naomi also volunteered several times at Wellspring and held a car wash to raise money to buy diapers. A hearty thanks is due to everyone who made donations or otherwise assisted Naomi with her project!